Georgia Student Arrested After Bringing Gun to Campus

A school resource officer first saw the student with an e-cigarette in their possession, according to the school. The officer then searched the student and found the handgun in their possession.

By Jessica Davis

January 17, 2019

A student was discovered with a loaded handgun in his backpack at Meadowcreek High School on Monday. The student was arrested and will face criminal charges, school administrators wrote in a letter to parents.

A school resource officer first saw the student with an e-cigarette in their possession, according to the school. The officer then searched the student and found the handgun in their possession.

"We understand that this is an unsettling situation ... weapons have no place in a school. That is why we are concerned and take this type of situation very seriously,” Principal Tommy T. Welch said. “However, it is important that we never lose sight that the vast majority of our students follow school rules and that they, in fact, play a critical role in keeping our school safe.”

According to Gwinnett County Schools’ Bernard Watson, the student also had two rounds of ammunition in the book bag. However, Watson said, the student did not make any threats to students or staff.

"This student did not pull out the gun, did not show anyone the gun, and there was no evidence he had plans to use the gun or threaten anyone on campus,” Watson said.

After the student was arrested on campus, the principal sent an email to parents informing them of what happened and to assure them that student safety is their No. 1 priority.

"We have two SROs at all of our schools. And this is why we have them there. They're doing their job. We don't want this one student to taint negatively the other thousands of students who go to this school," Watson said.